American Airlines flight changes

[robin]

We have sat on the plane in Philly waiting for passengers from connecting flights, so they do wait. I also know that they will get the bags for the connecting flight off before the bags that are for people who are not connecting.

Once when we flew to another island, we went the day before to avoid a very early flight, and checked into a hotel with an airport shuttle and free breakfast in Charlotte. We met up with friends, went out to dinner and the next morning went back to the airport. It was much better than the 6 am flight with a long layover.

[Traceyd14]

Thanks for the ideas and info about holding the plane. We have had 1 hour connections in Miami where we walked up just in time for boarding so 40 minutes is outside of my comfort zone. It would be different if there were other flights available later in the day, but everything is so limited right now. I don't want to lose a day or more because of a missed connection.
We have also made a tight connection that our luggage missed so always plan for that too.

[Andrea J.]

40 min in Miami is too tight imo.
if your flight flight is even a few minutes late, and it could be........that 40 min could be even less.
I would opt for an evening flight and stay over in Mia.

[WaltVB]

Thanks for the ideas and info about holding the plane. We have had 1 hour connections in Miami where we walked up just in time for boarding so 40 minutes is outside of my comfort zone. It would be different if there were other flights available later in the day, but everything is so limited right now. I don't want to lose a day or more because of a missed connection.
We have also made a tight connection that our luggage missed so always plan for that too.

Have you considered a flight through Charlotte instead? We have a 2 1/2 layover there on the way down.

[B Likes To Travel]

I agree with Andrea and Walt's suggestions. Overnight or flying through Charlotte.

I wouldn't want such a tight layover and wouldn't rely on them to hold the flight...checked bags too.

If you are flying in the front with carry ons only and willing to run like the wind...maybe. I haven't flown since March but I imagine* boarding and deplaning is much slower, especially on full flights.

[Andrea J.]

I haven't "run like the wind" in 40+ years.
I did pick up my saunter this morning when the rain drops started again.

It is hard enough to make Aruba plans and hard enough to comply with the regulations, then when the airlines do what they do...it makes it very difficult and frustrating.
Aruba has yet to fall into "more trouble than it is worth."
But the obstacles are there

I agree with Andrea and Walt's suggestions. Overnight or flying through Charlotte.

I wouldn't want such a tight layover and wouldn't rely on them to hold the flight...checked bags too.

If you are flying in the front with carry ons only and willing to run like the wind...maybe. I haven't flown since March but I imaging boarding and deplaning is much slower, especially on full flights.

[Traceyd14]

Have you considered a flight through Charlotte instead? We have a 2 1/2 layover there on the way down.

No good connections through Charlotte on our date from DCA or IAD. There is a possibility of one out of Richmond that could work. All options are 2 stops or over 23 hours. If we have to go to Baltimore I would rather take the Southwest direct flight. We will be coming through Charlotte on our flight home.

We are lucky to have many airports to choose from, some easier to deal with than others, but man these connections are rough this year.

[B Likes To Travel]

This made me let out one of those weird snort laughs LOL

I haven't "run like the wind" in 40+ years.
I did pick up my saunter this morning when the rain drops started again.

It is hard enough to make Aruba plans and hard enough to comply with the regulations, then when the airlines do what they do...it makes it very difficult and frustrating.
Aruba has yet to fall into "more trouble than it is worth."
But the obstacles are there

[schexc]

The airline changes are one reason why we haven't booked yet. I watch the schedules almost daily and saw what happened to schedules that were up for October and then canceled. Still watching November, but from the sounds of it, flight changes that month are also being changed frequently.

[WaltVB]

I flew across country and back in August. Everything was fine then. The airports are like ghost towns and boarding and deplaning was very organized and quicker than usual. I try not to book more than 12 hours or two stops of flight segments unless it's to Asia or the Middle East. If you have to do an overnight through design or due to other circumstances hotel selection is critical. I pick airport hotels that have free shuttles and usually try to use points or free nights to stay over. I have had my bags checked through after surprise layovers in Miami, Charlotte, Philly, Detroit, Chicago and a couple of places in Asia. Depending on your situation you can have your bags checked through on your flight the next day and just use a carry-on for the night in the hotel. Pam and I did that when we were forced to stay in Miami one night due to a late departure from Aruba. For the past 40 years my backpack always has a change of underwear, toothbrush and paste, and a clean shirt (and a couple of mini bottles of Bombay Sapphire) cause you just never know. Try not to stress over it and just go with the flow. Way too many people let air travel stress them out when all they need to do is plan for the worst, hope for the best and roll with it. The way things are going I would expect flights to change again as we get closer, especially since AA has laid off so many employees.